Cigar lighter



March 17, 1942. A. A. JOHNSON 2,276,982

CIGAR LIGHTER Filed Oct. 15, 1938 INVENTOR Patented Mar. 17, 1942 CIGAR LIGHTER Arthur A. Johnson, Bridgeport, Conn., assignor to Automatic Devices Corporation, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application October 15, 1938, Serial No. 235,145

12 Claims.

This invention relates to electric cigar lighters, and, more particularly, to a cigar lighter in which the energizing circuit is automatically broken after the lighter has been held in an energizing position for a predetermined time.

According to the present invention, the igniting unit, of which the heating element forms a part, is adapted to be manually moved from a normal position on the holding device to one in which a circuit is closed to the heating element, the igniting unit being held in the closed-circuit position until after a predetermined lapse of time during which the heating element is brought to incandescence for use.

Furthermore, the igniting unit is held in the closed-circuit position against the tendency of a spring to return it to open-circuit position by a normally inoperative latch means carried by the holding device and rendered operative simultaneously with the actuation of the timing means employed.

The timing mechanism comprises, in the present invention, a cylinder supported exteriorly of the holding device having a piston working therein by means of which air can be expelled from the cylinder. The piston is normally biased to a position adjacent an end of the cylinder but may be moved toexpel the air in the cylinder by manual manipulation. The cylinder is provided with an air inlet so that air is gradually withdrawn into the same after it has been exhausted by movement of the piston whereupon the piston is gradually returned to its normal position. A predetermined return movement of the piston is adapted to render a latch-engaging means operative to release the latch retaining the ignitingunit in the energizing position so that the latter, under the action of the spring, returns to the open-circuit position. The return movement or the piston may be timed by adjusting the amount of air supplied to the cylinder through the air inlet to the end that the piston will complete the return movement necessary to release the latch only after the igniting unit has been brought to incandescence.

The cylinder, according to the present invention, is mounted exteriorly of the holding device, and is not affected by the heat of the heating element. The cylinder, furthermore, is mounted in such a manner that the stroke of the piston working therein is parallel to the line of movement of the igniting unit on the holding device. The piston is provided with a manual actuator which, as the cylinder is mounted adjacent the holding device, may be simultaneously moved with the igniting unit as the latter is manually moved from the normal open-circuit position to the closed-circuit position. Thus, the timing mechanism may be actuated by the user at the time he moves the igniting unit to energize the same. This facilitates the actuation of the timing mechanism and eliminates two manual operations, although the actuation of the timing mechanism is independent f the actuation of the igniting unit.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a longitudinal section of the cigar lighter showing the igniting unit in normal or nonenergizing position.

Fig. 2 is a, similar View, but shows the igniting unit partly in section and shows the igniting unit in energizing position.

Fig. 3 is a similar view, but showing the position of the parts just prior to the release of the latch holding the igniting unit in energizing position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3 with the igniting unit removed from the holding device.

In the form of the invention herein disclosed,

there is shown a holding device in the form of 2.

tubular shell H] which may be secured in any suitable manner to a support such as an instrumerit board ll of an automobile.

As shown, a portion of the shell l0 projects through an aperture formed in the instrument board H, to which is secured by any suitable means an es'cutcheon plate l2. At its rear end the shell It! has an inwardly extending flange l3 on which is secured a disk l4 having a threaded boss l5. The boss I5 receives an a'pertured bow of a U-shaped yoke IS, the legs of which engage the rear side of the instrument board H. A nut I1 is threaded on the boss l5 so as to securely clamp the shell In between the yoke l6 and the instrument board H.

The boss l5-has an insulator sleeve it through which extends a screw 19, the head of which holds a contact spider 20 in place within the shell 10. The contact spider 20 is insulated from the disk [4 by aninsulating washer 2|. The outer end of the screw 19 carries nuts 22 between which a terminal 23 of a supply wire 24 is secured. The inner nut 22 is insulated from the end of the boss l5 by an insulating washer 25.

Thus, it will be seen that the shell or tube It] is mechanically and electrically connected to the instrument board ll, which'is usually connected to one side of a current supply battery by a ground, and that the contact spider 20 is insulated from the shell and is normally alive, being connected to the current supply wire 24.

As in this type of cigar lighter, the igniting unit of the present invention fits the shell I0 and is slid into the shell to be frictionally supported thereby in normal inactive position. In the form of the invention herein shown, the igniting unit or .plug comprises a body portion made up of a dielectric sleeve 26 threaded into a knob member 2'! made of some suitable insulating material. The inner end of the igniting unit is provided with a heating element 28 comprising a spiral coil of resistance wire 29 mounted in a cup 36 to which the outer end of the wire is secured, the inner end of the wire bein secured to a post 3|.

The heating element, in the form shown, is removably mounted on the igniting unit, the end of the latter being provided with screwthreads 32 to receive a screw threaded cap 33 secured to the cup by riveting over a head 34 of the post 3|. Interposed between the cup 30 and the threaded cap 33 is an insulating washer 35.

The igniting unit is adapted to be held in the shallow open-circuit position on the holding device by means of a spring 36 carried by the igniting unit and engaging a flange 31 formed at the inner end of a sleeve 38. The sleeve 38 at the forward end. has a flange 39 engaging the escutcheon plate [2 so that when the igniting unit is .pushed into a deep position in the holder the spring is compressed. The spring 36, as shown, is disposed within an annular groove formed in the sleeve 26, and is placed in front of the handle with one end thereof engaging the flange 31 of the sleeve 38. The sleeve 38 is disposed so as to be movable lengthwise relative to the sleeve 26 and cap 33 and connected thereto to enable the unit to be moved into circuit-closing position.

A resilient arm 40, supported on the holding device adjacent an aperture 4| formed in the latter, is provided with a reversebend 42 forming a finger 43 projecting through the aperture into the shell I0. Hence, when the igniting unit is moved from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, the finger 43 engages the cap 33, and current is conducted from the supply wire 24 through the screw I9, spider 20, cup 36, wire 29, post. 3|, cap 33, finger, 43, arm 40, and thence to ground through the shell l0.

According to the present invention, the igniting unit and heating element are held in the position shown in Fig. 2, that is to say, in energizing position, until the coil becomes incandescent and ready for use, and, the present invention, is held in the energizing position by the finger 43 as the same rides over the shoulder 44 formed by the cap 33.

It will be seen, therefore, that when the igniting unit is moved to the position shown in Fig. 2, that is the energizing position, the same will be held in that position by reason of the engagement of the finger 43 with the shoulder 44.

Means are provided in the present invention for releasing the latch formed by the finger 43 after a predetermined lapse of time in which the heating coil has been brought to incandescence. To this end, there is provided a timing mechanism for releasing the latch means after the predetermined lapse of time, which, in the preferred form of the invention, comprises a cylinder 45 mounted in a suitable aperture in the escutcheon plate l2 so as to lie substantially parallel with the holding device If].

A piston comprising a tubular member 46 is slidably received within the cylinder 45. The outer end of the piston is provided with a manual actuator button 41 suitably secured thereto so as to seal the outer end of the same. A collar 48, secured to the opposite end of the piston, is provided with a rod 49 slidably mounted in a boss 50 carried by a transverse wall 51, sealing the rear end of the cylinder 45. A spring 52, carried within the chamber of the cylinder, resists movement of the piston to the left, as viewed in Figs. 1 to 3, and normally urges the piston to the position shown in Fig. l.

A laterally bent finger 53 of the arm 46 is provided with a boss 55 slidably supporting the rod at the rear of the holding device 10. The cylinder 45 preferably is provided with an aperture 56 to allow the air to be expelled from the chamber of the cylinder when the piston 46 is moved toward the left, as viewed in Figs. 1 to 3, compressing the spring 52.

To permit an adjustment of the opening provided by the aperture 56, a resilient tongue 57, having a portion 58, adapted to form a partial closure for the aperture 56, is slidably mounted exteriorly of the cylinder. The tongue 5'! terminates at the outer end in a reverse bend 6 0 forming a handle for manually adjusting the portion 58 partially covering the opening provided by the aperture 56. It will be seen, therefore, that the opening provided by the aperture 56 may be conveniently varied by adjusting the slidably mounted tongue 51.

The tongue 57, being resilient, will flex upwardly as the air is forced from the cylinder through the aperture 55, and it will be seen that the member 58 forms a valve permitting the air to be expelled faster from the chamber of the cylinder than it can be redrawn into the same.

A pin 6|, carried by the outer end of the cylinder 45, rides in a groove 62 formed in the .piston 45, and the pin, as it engages the opposite ends of the groove 62, limits the movement of the piston in either direction.

To permit the movement of the piston to time the duration which the heating element is held in the energizing position, the rod 49 is provided with means for releasing the latch holding the igniting unit in the energizing position made operative only after the piston 45 and rod 49 has completed a predetermined return movement.

In the preferred form of the invention, this means comprises a conical collar 63 secured intermediate the ends of the rod 49 which is adapted to engage the bend 42 of the arm 40, thereby releasing the latch holding the igniting unit in the energizing position. The bend 42, in the form of the invention shown, is provided with an aperture 64 eccentrically formed relative to the collar 63 so that the collar, as it engages the defining edges of the aperture, will cause the arm 46 to flex upward, thereby freeing the finger 43 from engagement with the shoulder 44. The igniting unit is now free to return under the action of the spring 36 to its normal position on the holding device, thereby breaking the current to the heating element.

In use, it will be seen that the igniting unit may be given an inward push, and, as the timing mechanism is located closely adjacent the holding device and as the path of movement of the piston 46 is parallel to the line of movement of the igniting unit, the user may simultaneously, and with one operation, move both the igniting unit and the piston inwardly, thereby energizing both the heating element and timing mechanism. The piston 45, as will be understood, and as it is moved inwardly against the action of the spring 52, will free the collar from the aperture of the bend 42 of the arm 40 and allow the arm, due to its resiliency, to move to the position shown in Fig. 2 so that the finger 43 will ride over and lodge behind the shoulder 44 of the cap 33, thereby holding the igniting unit in the energizing position until the piston returns the distance necessary to cause the collar to release the finger 43, allowing the igniting unit to return to its normal position on the holding device.

The arm 40, as it is flexible, will allow the igniting unit to be removed from the holding device prior to the actuation of the latch-releasing means, so that if, for some reason, it is desired to prematurely remove the igniting unit from the holding device the igniting unit may be simply grasped and pulled outwardly from the holding device.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. An electric cigar lighter as in claim 3, wherein said timing means includes a fluid chamber disposed exteriorly of said holding device from which fluid is expelled on operation of a manually operable means; means urging the latter manually operated means toward-its initial position for return of the fluid into the chamber; and a valve oiTering greater resistance to the return of said fluid than to the expulsion thereof.

2. An electric cigar lighter having a holding device and an igniting unit mounted on the holding device for complete removal for use, said igniting unit including a heating element; manually operable means for moving said igniting unit to close a circuit to said heating element; means for normally urging said igniting unit into the open-circuit position; latch means; means manually operable independent of said first-named manually operative means, for rendering said latch operative to hold the igniting unit in the closed-circuit position; and timing means independent of the heat produced by said heating element for automatically rendering said latch inoperative at theend of a predetermined period after operation of the latter manually operated means.

3. An electric cigar lighter having -a holding device and an igniting unit mounted on the holding device for complete removal for use; a heating element carried by said igniting unit; means for normally urging said igniting unit into an open-circuit position; manually operable means for moving said igniting unit to a position closing a circuit to said heating element; timing means, manually operable independent of said circuit-closing means, for indicating a predetermined period of time within which said heating element will reach a useful temperature after the igniting 'unithas been moved to closedcircuit position, independently of the heat generated by said heating element; and means rendered operative upon manually operation of the timing means for holding the igniting unit in closed-circuit position and automatically rendered inoperative by the same upon the exporation of the said predetermined period of time.

4. An electric cigar lighter as in claim 3, wherein said timing means includes a fluid chamber disposed exteriorly of said holding device, from which fluid is expelled on operation of manually operable means; means urging the latter manually operated means toward its initial position for return of the fluid into the chamber; and a valve offering greater resistance to the return of said fluid than to the expulsion thereof; and wherein the holding means includes a normally inoperative latch rendered operative upon operation of the latter manually operated means and released by the return of said manually operated means to its initial position.

5. An electric cigar lighter having a holding device and an igniting unit including a heating element mounted on the holding device for complete removal for use, said igniting unit having a normal position on the holding device in which said heating element is not energized and being manually movable to a position, whereby said heating element is energized; means urging said igniting unit into said normal deenergizing position; a normally inoperative latch; a cylinder mounted on the holding device; a manually operable piston for expelling air from said cylinder upon motion in one direction, the operation of said piston rendering the latch operative to hold the igniting unit in energized position, said piston operation being independent of the operation of the igniting unit; means tending to separate the cylinder and piston for moving said piston in the opposite direction; an air inlet permitting air to gradually enter the end of the cylinder toward which said piston is manually moved, between the cylinder and piston; and means made operable by predetermined return movement of the piston to release said latch whereby said igniting unit is permitted to return to its normal position.

6. An electric cigar lighter having a holding device and an igniting unit on the holding device for complete removal for use, said igniting unit including a heating element; cooperating contacts on the holding device and igniting unit for closing a circuit including said heating element, said igniting unit having a normal position on the holding device in which the circuit through said heating element is opened and being manually movable to position to cause said cooperating contacts to engage and close the circuit through said heating element; means normally tending to move said igniting unit to said opencircuit position; timing means carried exteriorly by the holding device; means for manually actuating said timing means; a latch normally disposed exteriorly of the holding device but adapted to be moved into the holding device upon actuation of the timing means to engage and hold the igniting unit in closed-circuit position; and means rendered operable by said timing means after the expiration of some predetermined period of time which is independent of the heat generated by said heating element for moving said latch out of holding engagement with said igniting unit whereby the latter is returned to its normal open-circuit position.

7. An electric cigar lighter having a holding device and an igniting unit mounted on the holding device for complete removal for use, said igniting unit including a heating element; cooperating contacts on the holding device and igniting unit for closing a circuit including said heating element, said igniting unit having a normal position on the holding device in which said circuit through said heating element is open and being manually movable to position to cause said cooperating contacts to engage and close the circuit through said heating element; a spring tending to return the igniting unit to nonenergized position; a resilient latch normally held out of the path of movement of said igniting unit; timing means actuated independently of said igniting unit, the resilient latch moving into retaining engagement with a part of the igniting unit upon actuation of said timing means; and means operable by said timing means after a predetermined length of time which is independent of the heat generated by said heating element for automatically releasing said latch whereupon said spring returns said igniting unit to nonenergized position.

8. An electric cigar lighter having a holding device and an igniting unit mounted on the holding device for complete removal for use; a heating element carried by said igniting unit; means for manually moving said igniting unit to a position on the holding device to energize said heating element; resilient means urging said unit into the open-circuit position; a latch resiliently held out of the path of movement of said unit; and means actuated independently of said igniting unit for causing said latch to move into the path of movement of said igniting unit, the latch engaging a part of said unit after the same has been moved to closed-circuit position and holding the unit in the said closed-circuit position, the said last-named means including a timing means for moving the latch out of holding engagement after a predetermined elapse of time which is independent of the heat generated by said heating element whereby said igniting unit is returned to the open-circuit position.

9. An electric cigar lighter having a holding device and an igniting unit mounted on the holding device for complete removal for use, said igniting unit including a heating element; cooperating contacts on the holding device and igniting unit for closing a circuit including said heating element, said igniting unit having a normal position on the holding device in which said circuit through said heating element is open and being manually movable to position to cause said cooperating contacts to engage and close the circuit through said heating element; a spring tending to return the igniting unit to open-circuit position; a normally inoperative latch; a cylinder, said cylinder being mounted exteriorly of the holding device and out of heat-receiving relation with said heating element; a piston working in said cylinder; manually operable means for moving said piston in one direction to expel air from the cylinder, the movement of said piston rendering said latch operative to hold the igniting unit in closed-circuit position; means tending to separate the cylinder and piston for moving said piston in the opposite direction; an air inlet permitting air to gradually enter the end of the cylinder toward which said piston is manually moved, between the cylinder and piston; and means made operative upon a predetermined separation of the piston to render said latch inoperative whereby the igniting unit is returned by said spring to the open-circuit position.

10. An electric cigar lighter having a holding device and an igniting unit including a heating element mounted on the holding device for complete removal for use; means for manually moving said igniting unit to close a circuit to said heating element; resilient means for normally urging said igniting unit into an open-circuit position; normally inoperative means for holding said igniting unit in a closed-circuit position; a cylinder; a piston working in said cylinder; means manually operable independently of the movement of said igniting unit, for moving said piston in one direction to expel air from the cylinder, operation of said last-named means rendering said holding means operative; means tending to separate the cylinder and piston for moving said piston in the opposite direction; an air inlet permitting air to gradually enter the end of the cylinder toward which said piston is manually moved between the cylinder and piston; a piston rod secured to said piston; and means carried by said piston rod made operative upon a predetermined separation of said piston and cylinder for rendering said holding means inoperative thereby permitting said resilient means to move said igniting unit to the opencircuit position.

11. An electric cigar lighter having a holding device and an igniting unit mounted on the holding device for complete removal for use, said igniting unit including a heating element; cooperating contacts on the holding device and igniting unit for closing a circuit including said heating element, said igniting unit having a normal position on the holding device in which the circuit through said heating element is opened and being manually movable to position to cause said cooperating contacts to engage and close the circuit through said heating element; resilient means normally urging said igniting unit into open-circuit position; a detent exteriorly carried by the holding device; means, including timing means manually operable independent of said igniting unit, for causing said detent to move into holding engagement with said igniting unit when the latter is moved to circuit-closing position; and means rendered operative independently of the heat generated by said heating element, a predetermined elapse of time after operation of said timing means for releasing said detent from the said holding engagement, the resilient means returning said igniting unit to open-circuit position upon release of the detent from engagement with the igniting unit.

- 12. An electric cigar lighter having a holding device and an igniting unit including a heating element mounted on the holding device for complete removal for use; a spring normally urging said igniting unit into an open-circuit position on said heating element,' said igniting unit being longitudinally movable on said heating element to a position wherein said heating element is energized; a cylinder mounted on the holding device independently of said igniting unit; a manually operable piston for expelling air from said cylinder upon motion in one direction; a resilient latch normally held out of the path of movement of said igniting unit; said latch moving into the path of movement of said igniting unit and holding the same in energized position upon operation of the piston to expel air from said cylinder; means tending to separate the cylinder and piston for moving the piston in the opposite direction; an air inlet permitting air to gradually enter the end of the cylinder toward which said piston is manually moved, between the cylinder and piston; and means made operable by predetermined return movement of the piston to cause said latch a to move out of the path of movement of said 

